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Stephon Heyer may not play in Redskins game against New York Giants

Right tackle Stephon Heyer (knee) sat out practice again Friday and might be sidelined Monday night against the New York Giants. Former practice squad member William Robinson would start if Heyer does not play.

"We're still holding out Stephon Heyer," Coach Jim Zorn said. "We had him out there watching but we didn't practice him. I'm disappointed that his knee hasn't come around as fast as had a week ago. He tweaked it a little bit early in the week."

In his second season from San Diego State, Robinson was recently signed from the practice squad. He would be making his career debut against Giants Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck.
"Here we go. He's gonna have a great challenge ahead of him," Zorn said. "That's who we have and that's who we'll play if Stephon can't go. He's going to be working against Tuck right off the bat."

And what does Robinson do well?

"Ah, we, we don't -- we'll find out as we go along and then try to help him if we can," Zorn said. "What I like about what he's doing is he's giving great effort. He's got good feet. He's enthusiastic. He's got a good punch. He seems to be athletic. He's not a slow guy. But a lot of the things that we'll find out will be kind of a find out as you go."

The Redskins could shift right guard Mike Williams to right tackle "but Mike hasn't had any reps at all in the last two weeks," Zorn said. "We've been trying to give Mike as many reps at guard as we possibly can. He's really coming on strong. I want to keep that going. And we'll just try to help will out any way we can."

Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (ankle) participated fully in practice and is expected to play against the Giants. Haynesworth has missed three of the last four games. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall (knee) and fullback Mike Sellers (thigh) were limited.

JZ is not gonna get run because he is not a good guy, or for lack of effort, or because his team quit on him. He is a great guy, gives 200% of his heart and soul into his efforts, and the team is still playing their azzes off.

He is gonna get run because he mismanages game day decisions, his play calling is suspect, and he failed to develop his young players quickly enough when it mattered.

Does anyone want to talk about how we can go through the next draft without drafting offensive tackles? Anyone?

The guy starting at right tackle this week has never played a snap in a regular season game, and was not on any roster this season until the Redskins signed him in October. The Redskins are starting this guy, who probably won't be with the team next year, against last years' Super Bowl champs and he will be asked to block one of the best Defensive linemen in the league.

Here's an idea, go single back all game, line Lorenzo Alexander up next to Will all game long not only should you be able to run right all game you should be able to protect as well. Davis, Thomas, and Moss in patterns with dump offs to Ganther should be enough......

While we sort through all the rumors zipping around the Internet about Mike Shanahan coming in to coach the Washington Redskins, a man who works for another NFL team -- but who guided the Redskins to a Super Bowl as a quarterback -- might be brought in the mix too.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers director of pro personnel Doug Williams could be headed to Washington to take on a similar position, according to some speculation from Bucs blog Joe Bucs Fan. There has already been some indication that Williams would not be retained by the Bucs following this season, and a return to Washington would have a symbolic impact, not to mention the actual capacity that Williams has shown for the job.
No playoffs means Phillips is cooked?
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Wade Phillips | Cowboys
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There was a lot going on this week in Big D. Some speculation centered around the possible change at placekicker from Nick Folk to David Buehler, and the situation with DeMarcus Ware was also captivating, as the sackmaster tries to come back and play after suffering a scary neck injury this past Sunday.

It's almost enough to forget that the Cowboys have a coach on the hot seat. But on Friday, team owner Jerry Jones made an appearance on KRLD-FM in Dallas and had some words that should re-direct our attention. "The outcome of games ultimately do weigh in on decisions," Jones said. "And the ones at the end probably have a little bit more weight than the ones at the beginning of the season."

Pressed to declare whether or not the next three games would determine Wade's future in Dallas, Jones replied, "We need to be successful in these next three games, and we need to get into the playoffs. It's going to be very disappointing if we don't." Those who read between the lines should be able to get what he means there.
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"Ah, we, we don't -- we'll find out as we go along and then try to help him if we can," Zorn said. "What I like about what he's doing is he's giving great effort. He's got good feet. He's enthusiastic. He's got a good punch. He seems to be athletic. He's not a slow guy. But a lot of the things that we'll find out will be kind of a find out as you go."

We have 3 games left - please let's concentrate on winning them and looking for a new coach when the season ends.

Posted by: Lisa_R | December 18, 2009 3:32 PM |

It isn't either/or. Hopefully, we're doing both. One group -- the players and coaches -- is concentrating on winning the three remaining games. A different group -- the owner and the new GM -- are finding a coach.

just realized the team cut D'Anthony Batiste on Tuesday. I was wondering why he wasn't starting at right tackle and then found out. Gee. Did this even make the news? Who did they sign in his place?

Posted by: RedSkinHead | December 18, 2009 3:27 PM | Report abuse

We signed a linebacker off of Pittsburg's practice squad named Gatewood to replace offensive tackle Batiste. Gatewood also spent time on the Redskin's practice squad.

Posted by: RedskinJim1 | December 18, 2009 3:33 PM |

Mr. Skinhead - it failed to make the news. Now that you have uncovered such a nefarious coverup I venture to say we will all be talking about Gatewoodgate.

Posted by: FartezDudmore | December 18, 2009 3:42 PM
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Was this reported to the league office? Does Bruce Allen know? Are they over the salary cap? Clearly, the signing of this player was the widow-maker, the deal that got Vinny fired. Maybe Vinny will finally come clean when the congressional hearing starts...

Posted by: BeantownGreg1 | December 18, 2009 3:56 PM
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Good point. Maybe Yoder? No, wait, he's filling in at fullback. Lorenzo Alexander? No, wait, he's filling in for Griffin. What about Gano? He doesn't have much upper body strength but he does have a quick first step...

Seriously, I think they would have to play some major musical chairs with BMW playing left tackle and Will Montgomery filling his spot at guard. I can't see them putting Will Robinson at left tackle in that situation. Geesh, talk about a nightmare situation...

2. Better to concentrate on losing our remaining games to max out the chances we have of selecting the Okie Okung.

Posted by: FartezDudmore | December 18, 2009 3:48 PM

You want high draft picks? Go root for the Raiders.

This is so SJKed up. What this team needs the most is to win the next three games and build a culture of winning. It is very discouraging for everyone -- particularly the young players -- to be on a losing team, to put out the effort that they're giving and to have it for naught.

2. Better to concentrate on losing our remaining games to max out the chances we have of selecting the Okie Okung.

The only way we get Okung is by trading up already. At 4 wins we're already picking around 7 no matter what and he's a top 3 pick. IMO we should try and trade back in the first and pick up another second. If we can do that pick up a RB in the late first and two tackles in the second. If we can't trade back then I say we go tackles 1 and 2 and sign Willie Parker.

The only way we get Okung is by trading up already. At 4 wins we're already picking around 7 no matter what and he's a top 3 pick. IMO we should try and trade back in the first and pick up another second. If we can do that pick up a RB in the late first and two tackles in the second. If we can't trade back then I say we go tackles 1 and 2 and sign Willie Parker.

The guy starting at right tackle this week has never played a snap in a regular season game, and was not on any roster this season until the Redskins signed him in October. The Redskins are starting this guy, who probably won't be with the team next year, against last years' Super Bowl champs and he will be asked to block one of the best Defensive linemen in the league.

Posted by: RedSkinHead | December 18, 2009 3:19 PM | Report abuse

Points well taken, except that Pittsburgh won the SB last year, not the Jints.

I just realized the team cut D'Anthony Batiste on Tuesday. I was wondering why he wasn't starting at right tackle and then found out. Gee. Did this even make the news? Who did they sign in his place?

Posted by: RedSkinHead

It got reported up here.

Batiste was let go on Dec 15. On Dec 18, the Skins said Heyer might not be able to go vs the jints and a practice squad guy who hasn't played an NFL down EVER ... is going to get to play against an All Pro.

fwiw, here was my comment on Batiste's release:

cut Batiste for an LB? Hmmmm, do we have lots of extra OL on our roster? Strange call.

Fantasy semifinals...would you start- Redskins or Chiefs (at home against Browns) Defense? We get 1 pt/sack, 2/turnover, 6 for def TD, and lose points for those scored by opponent's offense. I know KC is terrible but the Browns couldn't find the end zone with Sacajewea and a Garman.

Best projection is we'll pick at #7. Okung might be there. If not, I'd trade out of that spot if possible, pick up a late first and 2nd rounder and take best available OT and OG/OT. Take McCluster or best available RB with other 2nd rounder.

Fantasy semifinals...would you start- Redskins or Chiefs (at home against Browns) Defense? We get 1 pt/sack, 2/turnover, 6 for def TD, and lose points for those scored by opponent's offense. I know KC is terrible but the Browns couldn't find the end zone with Sacajewea and a Garman.

Thanks for input

Posted by: Notorious_LMG

Bigger upside and risk with KC. If you're a longshot, go with KC. But check the weather. If its wet and windy, all defenses improve ...

Three of the five starting Buccs offensive linemen are Bruce Allen draft picks (Jeff Zuttah/LG, Sears/RG, Trueblood/RT) ... that's a young line. Buccs line is 8th in the league in letting the QB get hit (but admittedly, the QB carousel might mean ball holding too long), but they are in the middle on allowing sacks. They do run right pretty well though.

We've gotta do something with all the hatred we've become accustomed to directing at Cerrato each day.

For my part, I'm stockpiling my extra vitriol to direct at Owner, The, when he (a) makes a head coach hire that does not please me for whatever reason I choose, or (b) indicates somehow that he has not disengaged from the football decisionmaking.

Firing Vinny is a huge step, but it doesn't take Danny off the hook for, you know, everything else.

One of my favorite stories about Gruden, and it's a ValricoRick original! Gruden actually has himself, and Dan Synder to thank for his Super Bowl winning quarterback Brad Johnson. Even though when Gruden arrived in Tampa he went after what he thought was a Rich Gannon clone in Rob Johnson, it was he himself who set in motion the actions that decided who his 2002 quarterback would be. When Gruden was in Oakland he had Jeff George, and he didn't want him anymore because he was lazy, and didn't want to practice. Gruden cut him, and Synder fell in love with George's rocket arm. Synder forced George on Shottenheimer, and even forced him into the starting lineup. Well Washington's starting quarterback at the time didn't much care for that and decided to move on and play in Tampa with Dungy because they new each other from the Vikings. That was Brad Johnson! If Gruden doesn't cut George he probably doesn't get Brad Johnson, and Rob Johnson wasn't going to win the Super Bowl. Cool story, huh?

RICH20ssu: Thank you my brutha; not very nice things said about the "troublemint twins" here's what bothers me; not one word about Moroco Brown moving up before they hired da Brucer i mean Brown's been here and with Allen not having a bullet proof resume why not give Brown a shot a la Jerry Reese(NY Giants) Brown's been with the team for a number of years and now he may be gone in favor of Doug Williams(love Doug but what is his experience)Morroco Brown has always been an excellent judge of talent sans Vinny and did Snyder and the Skins perform due dilligence with regards to the Rooney rule as far as interviews of minority candidates are concerned?

Brown was probably the guy they gave a "token" interview to take over as GM. He's a good soldier and his time will come with another franchise, so he didn't want to rock the boat and announce to everyone he's the token minority interview.

I grew up and lived 25 years in Germantown and have spend the last 7 in Tampa. Allen is NOT respected here in the least. Time will tell, but that article I posted says it all for now.

There are many other failed free agents Mike Shanahan brought in during his 14 seasons as coach. The mistakes cost the Broncos millions of dollars - some were still affecting the team this past offseason - and are a reason Denver has only one playoff win since January 1999.